Cub Scouts will create 3-D clay models of geographic areas of New Jersey, use satellite images to locate where Macculloch-Miller family members lived before, during, and after the Civil War, and work with a floor-sized game board map to review what they have learned about geography and history while earning their Academics Pin for Geography.

It has been decided that we will have the next pack meeting at the Pinewood Derby on Saturday, February 21. The meeting will be about 11:00. We will also be having a representative from the council there to talk about Friends of Scouting.

If your son will not be participating in the Pinewood Derby, please email Ed Walters! edw@teamdfl.com We don't want to assign a racing number to scouts who will not be racing.

Doors will be open at 9:00 if you would like to come and help setting up the track, helping your son work on his car, have a bagel, etc. If you need to drop off your car before sports, etc that day, the cafeteria will be open at 9:00. Racing begins about noon and you don't have to be present but it sure is fun!! All cars need to be there by 11:00 in order to be weighed and if you need to make any adjustments - you don't want to wait till the last minute.

There have also been requests for a Family and Friends race. If you, or another child, would like to build their own derby car to race against other families, please feel free to do so. They are available at the council or at Ramsey or even Michael's. This race will take place after the scouting races.

We will once again have the Boy Scouts judging the cars on creativity/originality as well as best car (neatness, etc). It would be great if there are a couple of grandparents who might be at the derby who could be judges as well. They find it fun too and gives them something to do!!! Please let Ed know if you have someone in mind. We only need a couple, so first come first served.

Also, there will be bagels and coffee, etc in the morning and then pizza, snacks and drinks about noon. This is one way we recoup some of the money spent on trophies, venue, etc. Bring an appetite! If you need Pinewood Derby guidelines, just click here .

If you have any other questions, just ask! Hope you can all make it!!! Don't forget to let Ed know if your son will not be participating in the derby!!! edw@teamdfl.com No code word this month - too crazy at the derby!!!

The following rules are designed to provide our Cub Scouts with a fair and fun atmosphere in which to race. At registration, each car will be weighed and inspected, to ensure its compliance with these rules. Cars which do not comply with these rules may be removed from the Competition Classes at the discretion of the Derby Staff. The car may have been built with some optional assistance by adults.

Materials:

All cars, irrespective of class must be constructed of the B.S.A.’s “Official Grand Prix Pinewood Derby Car Kit” (item no. WW17006). No other car kits or pre-made cars are acceptable, and will not be permitted.

All parts which come with the official Derby kits must be used; conversely, parts from other sources may not be substituted in place of original parts.

Weight:

A car (including paint, decorations and decals) may weigh up to an including a maximum of 5 oz.

The show scale weight will be official for all cars regardless of any other claims.

Weight changes are permitted during the registration and inspection period, but not once the race has started.

Size and Dimensions:

The length of a car must be 7 inches or less.

A car must be 2 11/16 inches wide or less (which includes the wheels).

A car’s wheels must be 1 7/8 inches apart (the original wheelbase measurement for the official B.S.A. Derby car kit).

A car must have a clearance above the track of at least 7/16”.

A car’s height cannot exceed 3 3/4 inches (or the car will not fit under the finish gate).

The front end of a car may not include a “V” cut or any other cut that allows any portion of the car’s front end to extend past the tracks’ starting pins, to avoid giving any cars unfair advantages.

Extensive rounding or reshaping of the front end of a car (i.e., bringing a car to a point), which prevents use of the starting gate is not permitted.

Wheel and Axles:

A car must use wheels and axles supplied in the official derby car kit.

Solid axles (i.e., one axle for 2 wheels) are not allowed.

Springs or suspension systems may not be installed.

Axles may be glued into a car.

Any burrs or mold excess may be removed from wheels.

No bearings, washers, bushings or other “non-kit” additions are allowed.

The car must be free-wheeling with no starting devices, flywheels, magnets or other motion enhancing devices.

The built-in axle slots in the kit block MUST be used. Relocating slot positions or creating holes for axles in different locations is not permitted.

Rounding, reshaping, undercutting or removing portions of the wheels is not permitted

Lubrication:

Only dry powder graphite or white B.S.A. Wheel and Axle Lubricant may be used to lubricate wheels and axles.

No oil, grease or silicone lubricants are allowed.

Loose Items:

Any decorations or added weight must be permanently attached to a car with glue, nails, screws, etc.

No loose items of any kind are permitted in or on the car.

All attachments must conform to the original height, length, weight, wheelbase specifications listed above.

Items that detach from a car during a race will remain off.

Registration and Inspection:

Each car must be registered, weighed and inspected prior to the race.

All decisions of the Staff of the Derby concerning rules compliance are final.

Competition classes: cars which are found to be in violation of these rules may be repaired by their owners prior to racing. Race officials will suggest reasonable adjustments in the cars before any disqualification, but are not responsible for performing repairs or making adjustments. Cars which cannot be fixed in time for racing will be removed from the Competition Classes, and will be raced in the Open Class. Such cars will not be allowed to win any of the Competition Class trophies.

All cars must be the official weight of 5 ounces or less – no exceptions.

Cars over the official weight of 5 ounces will be given a chance to reduce the weight to the official 5 ounces or less.

Impound Area:

After registration and inspection, all cars will be kept in an “Impound Area.”

No car will leave the “Impound Area” except for racing, until the participant’s racing has been completed.

No alteration or modification of the car will be allowed once the car is in the impound area.

Racing times and “Pit Passes”: racing times will be assigned randomly. The cars assigned to the Rank Race will race first in order of Rank. The Outlaw Race will be conducted next. The cars competing in the championship race will race once the other races are completed. Note that the Derby Staff may, at its discretion, allow Cub Scouts to race ahead of other participants, regardless of their arrival and registration times.

Self Starting: cars will be started simultaneously by a gate lever.

Crashes:

If a car leaves the track or a wheel comes off before the car reaches the finish line, the race will be re-run.

a one-time five minute pit stop will be allowed to repair a damaged car.

The “Official District Mechanic” will assist in making any and all repairs, but will not be responsible for the success of such repairs.

January 5, 2015 As part of an ongoing service project, the Wolves visited the Interfaith Food Pantry in Morris Plains and as a den generously donated 145 lbs of food!

Mrs. Miller, our tour guide, showed us the entire facility, including the panty where clients shop for food and the warehouse where the food is received, sorted and stored.

The Wolves were put to work too! Each wolf was given a large box of tea or sugar bags, which they re-packaged into many smaller portions of 10 bags each. They filled about 6 large boxes at the end - Great Job!!

Mrs. Miller explained that by taking larger boxes of food and splitting them into smaller portions the food could be shared with more people - which was a valuable lesson. Overall, the boys had a lot of fun and learned how important giving and being of service is, especially for Scouts!

As announced at Monday's Pack meeting, we are going to see the MONSTER JAM Monster Trucks event on Friday, January 30th at 7:30PM at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford (Meadowlands). If you are not familiar with MONSTER JAM, you can check out their website at http://www.monsterjam.com/.

This show is a special "Scouts Night" and costs only $17 per ticket with the Scouts Night Group Discount. The event starts at 7:30pm and includes a "Pit Party" pass ($10 value) that goes from 5:30-6:30pm. During the Pit Party you can see the trucks up close, meet the drivers and maybe even get an idea for the Pinewood Derby! Please note that the whole family is invited to this Pack 53 MONSTER JAM event.

To join Pack 53 for the MONSTER JAM, please drop off a check made out to Cub Pack 53 for the total amount ($17.00 x total number going with your family) to Lee Emdur's house at 35 Drake Court. Also, please email Lee at lemdur@yahoo.com to let him know if you are interested in going and that you plan to drop off a check. You can also call Lee at 973-895-6030 if you have any questions on the event. And if you decide to go, it's recommended that you carpool with other Scout families to save on parking costs.

Your sons had a good den meeting last night. I want to give you a recap of what's been accomplished to date, ask you to remind them of some assignments to do at home over the next week or so, and preview my plans for the next den meeting.

So far the boys have COMPLETED the following requirements:

Forester requirements 1,2, 3, 4, 6, and 9 on Oct 18. We will be completing this Activity in January den meeting when we do Naturalist activities.

Just a quick reminder that our next pack meeting is Monday, December 15.

Please be sure to refer to the website for any information about upcoming dates and links for events that you can sign your scout up for. Please let me know by Tuesday at the latest if your son has completed his Citizenship Belt Loop or any others so he may can recognition at our meeting!!

For those of you who need to drop off gifts for our Adopt-A-Families, please do so by next Wednesday December 10th at 8 Old Chimney Road or 15 Willow Drive.

Also, a more thorough email with the agenda will be going out later this week. You want to read that one in its entirety! HINT, HINT!!!!!!

Adopt a family gifts are due next Wed.. Dec. 10th. Please deliver them to The Curley's: 8 Old Chimney Rd. I have a big, plastic, red & green bin on our front porch. Place the wrapped gifts inside the bin at any time. Email me: curleycrew@verizon.net or call me 973-607-1403 with any questions. Thank you!

Congratulations to Tiger Cub Scout Arnan Hallajian for being the first to complete his Citizenship Belt Loop!! Remember, if you attended the last pack meeting, all you have to do is develop a list of jobs you can do around the home. Chart your progress for one week.

If you missed the last pack meeting, here is the list of items you to do to earn the Citizenship Belt Loop.

Complete these three requirements:

Develop a list of jobs you can do around the home. Chart your progress for one week.
Make a poster showing things that you can do to be a good citizen.
Participate in a family, den, or school service project.

Once again, congratulations to Arnan!!! Please remember to let me know if your scout completes the Citizenship Belt Loop (or any others they may complete as well).
Not sure where to find the requirements for Belt Loops? Just Google Belt Loop ______. Scoutermom.com and BoyScoutTrail.com are great sites to get great scouting information!!!
Want to earn a bunch of Belt Loops in one day? Attend the Belt Loop Midway on Saturday, Jan. 3. Registration will be open soon so be sure to check the link often: http://ppbsa.doubleknot.com/event/1561193